Currently, when the government shuts down, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are either sent home without pay or forced to work for free until the shutdown ends. While these workers usually get back pay later, they face immediate financial stress. Members of Congress, however, continue to receive their salaries because their pay is protected by law and the Constitution.

If this bill becomes law, it would ensure that lawmakers face immediate financial consequences when they fail to meet their basic responsibility of funding the government. This could change the political math behind shutdown threats, making them less likely to happen and potentially leading to more stable government operations.